Punishments for juvenile offenders can be severe. Juvenile courts offer young offenders many sentencing options, also called “dispositional orders.” These sentencing options fall under two, 2. Obtain a high school diploma. Juvenile corrections officers must obtain a high school diploma or equivalent diploma, such as the GED, to work in a state or local facility. Those hoping to work at the federal level must also obtain a high school diploma before attending a postsecondary institution. Juvenile offenders consume a large portion of child welfare, juvenile justice, special education, and mental health resources. Additionally, chronic and violent juvenile delinquency has been associated with adverse health, educational, career, and interpersonal outcomes, with repercussions visible into adulthood. establishing mandatory minimum sentences for juvenile offenders and allowing juveniles to serve life in prison without parole JLWOP, among other factors. As far as legislation goes, these states have a lot of work to do, McElrath-Bey was arrested two weeks later. He. He pleaded guilty to first-degree murder at age 12 and received a 12-year sentence. Still a member of the Latin Kings, McElrath-Bey adopted his street habits in two juvenile facilities, often getting into fights and ending up in solitary confinement.